Abstract: It was difficult to specify a portion which is a cause of a power generation abnormality of a fuel cell which performs the power generation by feeding an oxygen-containing oxidizer gas into a cathode and feeding a hydrogen-containing fuel gas into an anode. A failure diagnosis method of a fuel cell system, which includes a step for computing an impedance in a prescribed portion of a fuel cell of a fuel cell system from a signal obtained by superposing an alternating current on a direct current as generated from the fuel cell system under a certain operation condition, wherein when in comparison of the impedance with an impedance as computed under a previously determined standard operation condition, an abnormality is present in the prescribed portion of the fuel cell, whether a cause of the abnormality of the prescribed portion resides in any one or plural prescribed sites constituting the fuel cell system is determined by using the comparison result.

Abstract: In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of electrodes composed of catalyst layers sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane between them and gas diffusion layers in contact with the catalyst layers; a conductive separator plate having a gas flow channel for supplying a fuel gas to one of the electrodes; and a conductive separator plate having a gas flow channel for supplying an oxidant gas to the other electrode, in order to bring a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte and a catalyst metal of the catalyst layers containing the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte and conductive carbon particles carrying the catalyst metal sufficiently and uniformly into contact with each other, the polymer electrolyte is provided in pores of an agglomerate structure of the conductive carbon particles. Consequently, the reaction area inside the electrodes is increased, and higher performance is exhibited.

Abstract: Problems of acceleration of drying of electrolyte membrane and local reaction, etc. can be properly coped with to attain the stabilization of performance of fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an increased reaction area by forming a gas channel, a proton channel and an electron channel very close to each other inside a catalyst layer. This polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of electrodes having catalyst layers sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane between them and gas diffusion layers in contact with the catalyst layers, in which the catalyst layer of at least one of the electrodes comprises carbon particles supporting a noble metal catalyst, and the carbon particles include at least two kinds of carbon particles adsorbing a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte in mutually different dispersed states.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for a flexible printed wiring board including an adhesive layer containing an epoxy resin composition, insulating layers respectively stacked on both sides of the adhesive layer and formed with a pair of films containing a nonthermoplastic polyimide resin, and conductor layers respectively disposed on the outer surfaces of the films. The total thickness of the insulating layers respectively stacked on both sides of the adhesive layer is 10 to 100 ?m and 2 to 10 times the thickness of the adhesive layer. The mutual adhesion strength between the insulating layers through the intermediary of the adhesive layer is 7.0 N/cm or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive aid composition having excellent adhesive strength to polyimide films without decreasing mechanical properties and being useful in the field of electric materials. An adhesive aid composition of the present invention contains a phenolic hydroxyl group-containing polyamide and a solvent as essential components. The phenolic hydroxyl group-containing polyamide preferably has a segment represented by formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a divalent aromatic group, and n represents an average number of substituents and is a positive number of 1 to 4). The adhesive aid composition of the present invention is suitably used for bonding polyimide films.

Abstract: The deterioration of the catalyst can occur during prolonged storage, occasionally causing the deterioration of the durability of the fuel cell.

Abstract: By using a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell comprising a fabric comprising a warp thread and a weft thread which are made of carbon fiber, wherein the distance X between adjacent intersections where the warp and weft threads cross each other and the thickness Y of the fabric satisfy the equation: 1.4?X/Y?3.5, the present invention reduces the surface asperities of the substrate and prevents a micro short-circuit resulting from the piercing of the polymer electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell by the carbon fibers of the fabric so as to improve the characteristics of the fuel cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell comprising: a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of electrodes sandwiching the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a first separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one of the electrodes; and a second separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the electrodes, wherein each of the electrodes has an electrode catalyst layer comprising at least a conductive carbon particle carrying an electrode catalyst particle and a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte, the electrode catalyst layer being in contact with the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, and at least one of the electrodes comprises a catalyst for trapping the fuel gas or the oxidant gas which has passed through the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an increased reaction area by forming a gas channel, a proton channel and an electron channel very close to each other inside a catalyst layer. This polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of electrodes having catalyst layers sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane between them and gas diffusion layers in contact with the catalyst layers, in which the catalyst layer of at least one of the electrodes comprises carbon particles supporting a noble metal catalyst, and the carbon particles include at least two kinds of carbon particles adsorbing a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte in mutually different dispersed states.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is provided comprising: a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; a cathode side electroconductive separator having a gas channel for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode; characterized in that the anode and the cathode comprise a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer formed on the gas diffusion layer at the side in contact with the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, the catalyst layer has catalyst particles and a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte, and at least either of hydrogen ion conductivity and gas permeability of at least either of the anode and the cathode varies in a thickness direction of the anode or the cathode.

Abstract: A porous supporting carbon body of a gas diffusion layer is provided with a larger number of smaller pores at its catalyst layer side and a smaller number of larger pores at the other side, particularly with an appropriate distribution of finer mesh at its catalyst layer side and coarser mesh at the other side. As a result, a high performance polymer electrolyte fuel cell is obtained in which water generated at the catalyst layer is quickly sucked out to the gas diffusion layer, and is evaporated at the gas diffusion layer to be effectively exhausted to outside the fuel cell, so that excessive water can be prevented from retaining in the gas diffusion electrode, with the polymer electrolyte membrane being maintained at an appropriately wet condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an epoxy resin composition containing (a) an epoxy resin and (b) a phenolic hydroxy group-containing polyamide resin having the structure represented by Formula (1), a method of curing the composition, a varnish, prepreg, or sheet using the composition, and an epoxy resin composition having the polyamide resin represented by Formula (1) as the active component. Cured products of the epoxy resin composition according to the present invention have a sufficient high flexibility when formed into a thin film, have a flame resistance even though the cured compositions do not contain a halogen flame retardant, an antimony compound, or the like and are superior in heat resistance and adhesiveness, and thus are extremely useful in a wide range of applications, for example, as molded materials, cast materials, laminate materials, paints, adhesives, resists, and the like. (wherein, l and m are averages, satisfying the formula: m/(l+m)?0.05; and l+m is a positive number of 2 to 200.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a high-performance electrode catalyst particle which is sufficiently coated with a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte and has a water repellent material suitably supplied thereto for water management. The method of producing the electrode in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of spraying a solution or dispersion of a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte into a dry atmosphere in which a catalyst particle comprising an electrically conductive carbon powder carrying a platinum group metal catalyst is flowing, to coat the catalyst particle with the polymer electrolyte, and then spraying a solution or dispersion of a water repellent material to the catalyst particle to attach the water repellent material to the catalyst particle.

Abstract: It has been difficult to keep the voltage of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stable for a long period of time because uniform water content control over the plane of the membrane-electrode assembly is impossible. A gas diffusion electrode is produced by forming a conductive polymer layer composed of conductive particles and a polymer material on a porous material composed of carbon fiber, and forming a catalyst layer composed of platinum-carried carbon particles on the plane of the conductive polymer layer. The conductive polymer layer is composed of conductive particles different in particle size, and the content of the conductive particles having the smaller particle size is decreased from one end towards the other end of the gas diffusion electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to an epoxy resin composition containing (a) an epoxy resin and (b) a phenolic hydroxy group-containing polyamide resin having the structure represented by Formula (1), a method of curing the composition, a varnish, prepreg, or sheet using the composition, and an epoxy resin composition having the polyamide resin represented by Formula (1) as the active component. Cured products of the epoxy resin composition according to the present invention have a sufficient high flexibility when formed into a thin film, have a flame resistance even though the cured compositions do not contain a halogen flame retardant, an antimony compound, or the like and are superior in heat resistance and adhesiveness, and thus are extremely useful in a wide range of applications, for example, as molded materials, cast materials, laminate materials, paints, adhesives, resists, and the like. (wherein, 1 and m are averages, satisfying the formula: m/(1+m) =0.01; and 1+m is a positive number of 2 to 200.

Abstract: In order to obtain an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly using a thin electrolyte membrane, the present invention provides a production method of an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly comprising: a step of forming a hydrogen ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane on a base material; a treatment step of reducing adhesion force between the base material and the hydrogen ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; a step of separating and removing the base material; and a step of bonding a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer onto the hydrogen ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, and, in order to obtain an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly which has a catalyst without clogging and is excellent in electrode characteristics, the present invention provides a production method of an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly comprising: a step of bonding a hydrogen ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer via a coating layer; a step of removing the coating layer

Abstract: A method for preparing a substrate for a flexible print wiring board having a polyimide based resin layer wherein a solution of a polyimide based resin precursor is directly applied on an electrically conducting material to form a polyimide based resin precursor layer and then the precursor layer is cured by heating to prepare a polyimide based resin layer, characterized in that a solution of a polyimide based resin precursor B, which is one of solutions of two types of polyimide based resin precursors, is directly applied on an electrically conducting material and then, on the resultant layer is applied a solution of a polyimide based resin precursor A which allows resolving the residual strain generated in the polyimide based resin formed by the curing of the above polyimide based resin precursor B.

Abstract: To provide a polymer electrolyte membrane having excellent size stability and excellent mechanical strength that can sufficiently prevent the size change due to the swelling condition, the displacement of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the formation of wrinkles during the production of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and can prevent damage during the production and operation of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. In a composite electrolyte membrane including a porous reinforcement layer made of a resin and an electrolyte layer made of a polymer electrolyte and laminated at least one main surface of the reinforcement layer, the direction having a high tensile modulus of elasticity in the reinforcement layer is substantially corresponded with the direction having a high rate of size change in the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst-coated membrane suitable for achieving a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that sufficiently prevents a decrease in the initial characteristics and also exhibits sufficient cell performance for a long period of time and has excellent durability. In at least the cathode catalyst layer, the ratio (WP/WCat-C) of the weight of the polymer electrolyte (WP) to the weight of the catalyst-carrying carbon (WCat-C) is decreased from an innermost layer positioned closest to the polymer electrolyte membrane toward an outermost layer positioned farthest from the polymer electrolyte membrane. The ratio (WP/WCat-C) in the innermost layer is 0.8 to 3.0, and the ratio (WP/WCat-C) in the outermost layer is 0.2 to 0.6.